The young players of U.23 Vietnam are growing up rapidly.
Overcoming the pressure of the Indonesian audience at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium (Jakarta, Indonesia), and overcoming the tough play of U.23 Indonesia, the U.23 Vietnam team won the U.23 Southeast Asian Championship in 2025. The victory of the team under coach Kim Sang-sik had a big mark from the bravery of the young players who are on the way to maturity.
Surrounded by fire, U.23 Vietnam players still play bravely
U.23 Vietnam played with great courage in the final match of the U.23 Southeast Asian tournament.
Photo: Dong Nguyen Khang
The most prominent among these are experienced players who regularly compete in the V-League such as goalkeeper Tran Trung Kien, central defender Pham Ly Duc, midfielder Nguyen Van Truong and Khuat Van Khang.
Among them, goalkeeper Tran Trung Kien is extremely brave. The goalkeeper currently playing for HAGL Club neutralized most of the situations that approached our penalty area, which were carried out by U.23 Indonesia. Tran Trung Kien always chose the simplest but most effective solution to control situations like this. His coldness discouraged the strikers of the team of the archipelago country.
The U.23 Indonesian team failed at home.
As for midfielder Nguyen Van Truong, even though he did not score any goals in this year's tournament, his contribution was huge. In the final match, Van Truong kept the ball well, maintained the rhythm for U.23 Vietnam, helping us maintain the game against the young team from the archipelago country.
If in the most recent U.23 Southeast Asian tournament in 2023, Van Truong was criticized for his impulsive moments and quarrels with U.23 Malaysian players in the semi-final match, then in this year's tournament, Van Truong is one of the most calm and stable players of the U.23 Vietnam team.
The calmness and coolness of Van Truong, Trung Kien, Khuat Van Khang help them become good supports for younger teammates who have less international experience such as Nguyen Cong Phuong (19 years old), Le Van Thuan (19 years old), Nguyen Hieu Minh (21 years old)...
Overcoming the phobia
Not only that, the fact that U.23 Vietnam defeated U.23 Indonesia right at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium also created a new milestone, creating general confidence for the entire Vietnamese football in the away matches at this stadium, from now on.
Vietnam U.23 team won at Gelora Bung Karno stadium
Photo: Dong Nguyen Khang
Previously, the U.23 teams and the Vietnamese national team had never won at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in important international tournaments. In the second qualifying round of the 2026 World Cup in Asia, in March 2024, the Vietnamese team lost 0-1 to the Indonesian team on this field. In January 2023, the Vietnamese team drew 0-0 with Indonesia in the first leg of the 2022 AFF Cup semi-final. In November 2011, the U.23 Vietnam team lost 0-2 to the U.23 Indonesia team in the 26th SEA Games semi-final. In December 2002, the Vietnamese team drew 2-2 with the Indonesian team in the group stage of the 2002 AFF Cup.
The head-to-head record of Vietnamese teams against representatives of the country of thousands of islands at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium has changed. Coach Kim Sang-sik's U.23 Vietnam has just opened the door for Vietnamese football on this field. Therefore, the victory of U.23 Vietnam this year can create a new milestone for Vietnamese football, helping our players no longer be psychologically haunted every time they play as guests at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in the future.
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/ban-linh-lam-nen-chien-thang-cua-u23-viet-nam-chao-lua-bung-karno-khong-con-am-anh-185250730012003096.htm
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